I recently saw an ad for the Rubbermaid Premier and the less expensive but similar Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids food storage containers. I really like how the lids snap to the bottom of the containers so that they don’t make a mess in the cupboard.

From the original Rubbermaid press release about the products back in 2008:

The average American owns 15 or more food storage containers, many of which eventually lose their lids, get damaged or become stained. In a recent study, 71 percent of consumers said they are routinely unable to find a lid to match their container while another 52 percent had lost the lids completely. Other research identifies staining as the #1 reason that food storage containers are discarded. Rubbermaid is helping consumers to overcome all these food storage challenges with its new Premier line of food storage containers.

Rubbermaid Premier is making “lost lids” a thing of the past with its patented Easy Find Lid” design that allows the lids to snap to the bottom of the containers for storage, so the right lid is always at hand. Each lid fits multiple sizes of containers, and lids and bases nest inside one another to free up even more coveted kitchen cabinet space.

If you own either of theseproducts, let us know about them in the comments section. I’m eager to hear if the reality lives up to Rubbermaid’s description.

This post has been updated since its original publication in 2008.

67 Comments for “Rubbermaid products solve messy lid problem”

We have a number of containers which are similar but which take different lids. We solved the problem of “which lid?” by matching everything up and then using a permanent marker to letter-code the lids and bottoms. Have a C bottom? There’s the C lid. We tossed anything that didn’t match up, so no more orphans.

We love them. Not only for the stacking ability, but the premier ones are really good at resisting pasta stains. I wish we had more of them, and I wish they were less pricy. We recently threw out a bunch of our old containers because we had misplaced lids, or lids with no container, etc. I haven’t used the other Rubbermaid product, but I do like the set of Premier ones we picked up over a year ago.

i had some of the rubbermaid stain shield products from back when i worked at the container store. i love pasta, but hated the way it stained my containers. i think the premier line replaced the stain shield ones, as they have the same sauce-stain resistance, just with new and improved lids.

i LOVE the premier line. in fact, i rehomed all of my old, unmatched containers and got a single (actually double) set of premier. there are 4 container size, but only two lids, so it makes matching them a breeze. they hold up well in the dishwasher, which is something else that bothered me with previous containers. i admit, they are a bit more pricey than others, but i think they’re worth it.

@mancide — So they really don’t stain? That’s one thing I hate about plastic storage containers. I make my own pasta sauce from our tomatoes in the summer and then freeze it to use throughout the cooler months. After I free up the container, it sits in the cupboard until the next time I have a tomato product to store. I loathe the staining.

I love these containers… although mysteriously 3 of them have gone missing (lids and all!) so I’m thinking of getting another set. They’re stain resistant and durable. And best of all, available at our Sam’s Club and Target. 🙂

We had these and they were MARVELOUS – the best containers I’ve ever had. But then my husband got concerned about BHPs in plastics (is that the acronmyn? you know what I mean). This was of particular concern because we store baby food in these and microwave with them all the time (which is the worst thing you can do with poison leaking plastics). Anyway since we checked and they all were indeed #7 plastics (the worst kind) we got rid of them – my husband now uses them to sort nails and screws in the garage. We bought other kinds of containers with green plastic lids that must be from the same maker (since the lids are mutually fittable with the other containers…) but aren’t quite as solid and well made as the poison ones. sigh.

I don’t get it with the stains. So what? If they are clean and still keep your food airtight, who cares if it’s stained? I have tons of food containers but we freeze a lot of stuff and I take my lunch to work every single day, so I use them a lot. I store all my containers with the lids attached so that I never lose a lid. I recently purchased several small glass containers for microwaving leftovers because microwaving plastic releases harmful toxins into your food. Bonus: glass containers are dishwasher safe.

I love ’em too. I am about to throw away all my old “tupperware” to keep just these in my cabinets. I have the Premiere set and also the ones for produce. The produce containers don’t have snap-on lids, but they stack nicely and you they are the same size as the premiere set, so lids are inter-changeable.

I find that the lids on these are sub par. They always leak liquid. When I take them to work I still have to put them in a ziploc because they’ll leak all over my lunch bag. They don’t stain easily, but that combined with their stacking ability don’t make up for all of the other flaws (#7 plastic, lids don’t close tight, etc). Don’t waste your money.

I have a drawer that I keep all my storage containers in. One of the reasons everything fits neatly is because I nest my containers. (The lids are in the same drawer stacked vertically in a small plastic bin.) My question is, how much space do these new pieces take up? You can stack them but from the picture it looks like you can’t nest them.

We purchased a set of the Premier about a month ago, and I’m waiting for another sale to pick up a second set. They stand up to the heat of the microwave and dishwasher, and I don’t worry about food leaking in my bag on the way to work. They are more expensive than the usual ‘throwaway’ versions, but much better quality and Rubbermaid backs it with a lifetime guarantee.

We’ve had the Premier set for several months now, and love them! They don’t stain, don’t retain odors, and clean up nicely in the top rack of the dishwasher.

The problem with storing containers with their lids on top of them, is that it only works if you have a lot of storage space. We nest the containers in one stack, and their lids in the other. Now my storage containers space stays organized indefinitely, rather than a week or so like before.

We were also disappointed to learn that they contain BHPs, so we’ve ceased microwaving in them… we tend to dump their contents on a plate and reheat the food that way (which actually allows it to cook faster all spread out).

Overall, we’ve been mighty pleased with our set of Premier, and have even bought some additional sizes outside of the ones that came in our set.

I pick up new plasticware catch-as-catch-can, and I’m reluctant to buy new plasticware if I can avoid doing so. (Not everyone has the budget issues I do.) The best solution I’ve found to the lid problem is two-fold:

– Purge the plasticware every few months. Go through it all and toss anything that doesn’t have a matching lid. Plasticware is so easily replaceable (quart-size yogurt containers, take-out restaurant meal boxes, etc.) that there’s no reason whatsoever to keep mismatched pieces.

– Keep the lids separate in a plastic bag. I noticed a neighbor of mine doing this a few years ago, and I was blown away at how simple a solution it was. I hang the bag from a little hook by the bin where I toss the rest of the plasticware.

The problem with plastic containers is that people don’t take the time to put them away properly. It doesn’t matter how simple the system or solution is, if it requires “work” people won’t do it.

These rubbermaid dishes look quite nice, but it still requires who ever is unloading the dishwasher to “lock” the lid to the bottom of the container. If your saying to yourself, well that only takes 2 seconds, you have absolutely no idea how lazy my roommate is in the kitchen. Keeping plastic containers organized isn’t actually that difficult; getting your family members/roommates to follow the system is the hard part.

I regularly weed our collection of storage containers to be sure we have lids for all the containers and vice versa. I also stack the lids on top of the corresponding sized container so you can grab the lid when you grab the container. It takes less than 2 minutes to put them away properly, but still I’m constantly having to go back after my roommate to put them away properly (or else there will be an early morning tantrum along the lines of why are there no lids for this container). My roommate is an otherwise lovely person, but if it requires the merest hint of work (other than removing from the dishwasher and putting on the shelf) she won’t do it.

I do two things. One, I just put the lid on the container when I store it. Two, I buy the same type of container. Problem solved.

I keep very few containers. I like the Glad 3 cup plastic storage containers-I store different nuts in the refrigerator and have some empty ones to store leftovers. They stack nicely in the refrigerator doors.

For my clients, most of the time, we eliminate 85% of their plastic storage containers and they don’t miss it. Ironically, one of my clients and I were spending the day together shopping and she happened to mention the whole plastic ware thing. She said she was nervous about elminating so much of it but since that time, she hasn’t missed it at all and she can’t believe she used to keep that much stuff.

The lids do not seal as tightly as I would like, so when the new line came out I was willing to upgrade for the better lids. However, Rubbermaid redesigned the basic shape of the containers and they are no longer square. They literally do not fit the space I have designated for them.

We bought ours from Costco about a year ago and they are wonderful. I have not had any problems with staining or leaking. I never realized that the lids snap onto the bottom (until just now) but don’t find that particularly useful. I have a a small bin next to the containers where all the lids go and don’t have a problem with missing lids. I use those primarily although I use other set of Tupperware containers (the FridgeSmart set, WONDERFUL for storing fruits and veggies so they keep fresh MUCH longer) that don’t stack well but I make do because they work so well.

A little OT, but does anyone know of a glass alternative? I don’t even know if it exists, but if there’s something made of glass that has a lid and can go from freezer to microwave I’d love to have your suggestion…

@ Martin – I use Pyrex containers. They are glass bottoms with plastic lids. My favourites have a steam vent that you can open in the lid when you microwave. They are safe for the freezer, dishwasher, and the microwave.

I recently replaced all my plastics with glass and LOVE the Frigoverre products from the Container Store. they come in all sizes and shapes, I use the small rectangle and round ones daily. They also have a great pitcher with a hermetically sealed top. it’s a great size and fits in the fridge really well. Compared to the price of plastics, they are actually cheaper and will last forever. no staining, no weird smells. my only complaint is that the lids are pretty basic. I don’t use the lids in the microwave, either, just a paper towel so they dont’ stain. good luck 🙂

We use Pyrex mixing bowls with lids. They’re great, and they fit in each other.

And while not necessarily microwave safe, we also collect glass jars (from food we’ve bought) to use in the fridge for leftovers. We recently discovered that Classico uses mason jars — a happy discovery since our small blender/food processor has an adapter to use mason jars instead of the plastic containers that come with it.

The Premier containers work very well. The do everything Rubbermaid says they do. I do want to mention that the all three Rubbermaid container series (Premier, Easy Find Lids & Produce Saver) use the same size bases and lids along with the same organizational system.

This makes it really easy to keep organized. I like the Produce Saver containers so much I even did a blog posting on them.

I have these containers and love them, but now do not use them because they contain (per Rubbermaid) the dreaded BPA chemical. They’re still studying whether this chemical is safe, but when manufacturers start pulling baby bottles made with the stuff, you have to question if everything made with BPA is safe. Also, I thought I read somewhere that Rubbermaid was going to come out with a BPA-free version so I would wait until that is available to purchase them. Any suggestions for a non-food use for a full set of these containers?

What you’re looking for is called Pyrex ware. It’s glass that is resistant to just about anything and comes with tight-fitting plastic lids.

My mom and I have sets and they’re fabulous, but they cost a lot more and weigh a lot more than the plastic stuff. They also usually just come in larger sizes for big leftovers, rather than the small individual sizes.

We switched over to the collapsible Rubbermaid containers. When they are empty, they collapse completely flat. I can store all our containers and lids in one stack in the cabinet so there’s no place to lose the lids. Also, you can collapse the container down to fit the amount of food in it, this saves space in the fridge too.

@Martin – Ikea makes some squarish glass containers with glass and silicone seal lids. I’m not sure if they still carry them – they are odd-sized – but I use their smallest square ones all the time. They are perfect for one-person leftovers, diced vegetables, or child-sized servings.

All Pyrex here, too. We love them — they don’t stain, they don’t leak, the plastic doesn’t smell like whatever you stored last, and the bowls are usually pretty enough to transition from microwave or refrigerator to the table.

We have only two sizes at our house. All the bowls nest together and the lids are kept in a plastic basket. Both are on our lazy Susan near the dishwasher.

Sure beats the stained plastic containers or the zillions of Cool Whip and cottage cheese containers that used to bop around my cupboards…!

Concerning the BPA issue: the premier series contains BPA, while the easy-find lids series does not. Rubbermaid has a nice page outlining which of their products contain BPA and which do not: http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubb.....info.jhtml
The page also addresses the BPA issue, though from a rather biased view. They do note that Canada has outlawed BPA in baby bottles (the release of the toxin is magnified when liquids/food are heated in the containers). If you are interested, you will find plenty of information if you search BPA on Google.

I got a set from BJ’s Warehouse club a few months ago and I love them. I got rid of just about all of my old beat up Ziploc and Gladware (they went to family members and Goodwill) and now have a great set of Rubbermaid Premier in four different sizes. There’s always a perfect sized container for my needs and I don’t have to worry about digging around for the lid. Putting them away is alos very easy (as you can imagine) because the lids and containers all next. They are a little pricey so I recommend getting them in a set to make it worth your while.

I don’t have these, but 5 years ago I ordered a storage set advertised on TV (in NZ) called “Less Lids”. It was 7 different containers in 3 sizes ranging from 400ml to 1.75 litres, but they all had the same size lid (they just differed in height). They also had plastic labels which clicked on to the front of each container; you could write and rewrite on the label with a pencil. Then the company went out of business, and I kicked myself for not ordering a couple more sets. It is so convenient to know that the lid you grab will fit the container.

Then recently I was in one of the big plastics shops here, and I realised these containers were from the Decor range. The company advertising on TV had simply put together a subset of Decor containers which all had the same size lid. I can extend my set of the so-called “Less Lids” just by sticking to the Decor containers with rectangular 10cm * 13cm lids.

Rather than throwing away plasticware that is either no longer being used because of staining or because it is missing a lid, check to see if there is a recycling symbol on it and recycle it instead. If it does contain BPA, by recycling it you are keeping that chemical out of the waste stream and from leaching into groundwater and making its way into our water supply.

I use a Rubbermaid set for storage, but transfer my lunch into a microwavable bowl at work – I keep a bowl, plate, etc at my desk – that way the staining issue is minimized, as is the leaching issue as the plastic container is not being heated.

But remember, just becuase it has a recycling symbol, doesn’t necessarily mean your local recycler will take it. For example, most curbside programs will take bottles of type 1 or 2, but finding someone who will take a tpye 6 or 7 plastic forces you to call on a Master Recycler.

We have the premier line and love them. Due to the plastic heating issue we don’t microwave and of our plastic containers including these. We don’t have any problem with leaks and luckily our curbside recycling takes everything except styrofoam and plastic bags so we are slowly recycling our older, cheaper plastic containers. The premier line is pricier but doesn’t stain and is completely worth the money!

I got one to see if I like it. It’s in the dishwasher right now. Since it’s always in use, I rarely have a chance to store it but the quality is excellent. As to the lid feature, It’s very nice to use the lid as a trivet when I reheat the food in the container.

Am I the only one who wonders how this saves space? With the lids on the bottom of the container, you can’t nest the containers together.

I have a double-sided carry cubby, and I just stack the like-sized containers together, and “file” the lids next to them. When i need a container (or need to put one away) i just pull the cubby out of the cupboard and put it on the counter, get what i need or put it away, and I’m done. I like being able to nest the containers together to save space. Looking at that Rubbermaid container, it would drive me nuts because I couldn’t nest it with its cousins. 😉

I just read about the easy-fit series in an email from Ribbermaid this morning. Just yesterday, hubby and I were discussing going through our containers and replacing them with all square ones, as the are more efficient space-wise.

So… while out shopping today I happened to see them in the store and decided to buy a set. I haven’t tried them out yet but I am looking forward to clearing out some of my old and/or stained “disposable” containers.

As for the person who was asking how it would save space by attaching the lids to the bottom of the containers, the lids stack together and then you can nest your containers inside each other “on top” of the stack of lids.

Hope that makes senses… they do have some photos on the website that show it more clearly.

Whether a lid snaps to the bottom or goes on top (which they all do) makes no difference: the reason that lids get lost is because people detach them so that they will nest into each other & save space. Thus, this solves no problem.

I love a new idea that is efficient, but this does not seem to fit that bill.

Actually it does make a difference if the lids go on the top or the bottom. In this case, say you have 4 matching containers – you can stack all 4 lids one one top of the other nad they stay together… THEN you stack each of the four containers nested and then placed on the stack of lids. If you were to place the lid on each container, and you stack one on top of the other, it would take up quite a bit more space. Not to mention that the higher you stack, the more probability of them toppling over!!

I don’t have these Rubbermaid stick-the-lid-on-the-bottom-of-the-container containers, and I always just stored the containers nested in one another, and then the lids stacked on top of one another, on top of the stack of containers. That way the containers and lids don’t lose each other. Personally I think I’d go batty knowing that my lids were touching the surface of the shelf inside the cabinets.

Now if I can figure out how to air dry the containers after washing so I don’t have to (a) stack them wet, (b) air dry them all over the kitchen counters overnight, (c) hand dry them all with a cloth.

I used to think I needed plastic containers. Then I learned about BPA and threw them all out…with the idea that I’d buy glass when I could find some.

Well guess what? I started using good ol’ foil over a bowl or plate and it works just fine. In so many instances, we’ve taught ourselves that we NEED some product, and in reality we don’t! When I’m ready to eat the leftover, I could rip off the foil and then stick the plate in the microwave, then eat up.

I guess if I wanted to bring stuff in for work lunches I’d want a container, or if I had kid’s lunches to deal with. In those situations, glass is probably best.

P, So true re: “we’ve taught ourselves that we NEED some product, and in reality we don’t!”

I stopped using fabric softener without issues and since then have found myself examining a lot of other products, including “convenience” foods and mixes. But, I do like using the Pyrex since the lids are meant to be reusable (though kudos if you reuse the foil).

I know pyrex is pretty durable but I don’t think it would hold up for all of our needs.

I’d LOVE to have all glass containers to store my pantry items etc, but the replacement cost can be pretty daunting. Also, another thing to consider is I am not really being “green” by throwing out my useable containers (which I already bought) and buying more just for the sake of having glass rather than plastic.

Be VERY CAREFUL about using this product. Rubbermaid says that it DOES contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is causing major health concerns worldwide. The Canadian government is banning it (at least from children’s products), and the European Union is looking into doing the same. The US government still claims that BPA is not harmful, but I would be very careful before purchasing or continuing to use this product.

Bisphenol-A has a greater tendency to leach from the plastic if heated or if it comes into contact with harsh detergents. So, basically, if you’re going to put it in the microwave or in the dishwasher, you’re asking for trouble.

In terms of Pyrex etc – I recently found sets of serving-sized (2 cup, I think) dishes with lids, I believe, at Walmart. They’re Anchor Hocking brand, so the silicone lids are navy instead of classic Pyrex red, but the glass is the same (my parents live near the AH plant, so I had them check into it). They’re great, and were only $4-5 for a set of 3.

Just FYI, I’ve had bad luck with Anchor Hocking. I had some bowls and the lids — which said they were microwave and dishwasher safe — warped terribly after very little, light use. I contacted the company and they wanted to know the number on the lid and seemed like they were going to replace them. However, they never sent me instructions and when I tried to contact them, again and again the email I sent came back as undeliverable. The Pyrex lids are also, imho, a lot easier to use and make a better seal, whereas the Hocking ones kept popping off in the fridge when they got cold.

Well, mine might have been a fluke! But that may also explain it 🙂 If they work for you, then that is great and maybe they’ll work for others, especially if they don’t microwave them or put them in the dishwasher.

I have these and absolutely love them – I live in a small apartment and space is at a premium. Yes you can snap the lids to the bottom of each container, but the beauty of these is that you can snap multiple lids (because they’re all the same size) at the bottom of the stack, and then you can nest all the containers. Because the containers are all the same square dimension, they nest easily but you have varying depths of containers to house larger leftovers or smaller leftovers.

I got a set that contained a standard size square that has two deep and two shallow, and a smaller square that has 2 deep, 2 shallow, and 2 ultra shallow. Now in my cupboards I have two neat little stacks instead of an overflowing cabinet of multiple sized containers.

They don’t stain, they don’t take on any odors (I even used one of mine in a pinch to store ground coffee for a while and never had the smell after dishwashing it), and they really stand up to wear and tear with no leakage in my work bag.

I do worry about the chemicals from the plastic – so I don’t store food in them long term, no more than 2 days. I take any food out and place on a plate before microwaving it. I’ve also started handwashing them as well, to prevent this from being as much of a problem as possible.

You probably don’t need any more comments, but I’ll add one anyway 🙂 We have a set of the Easy-Find- Lids containers and like them *very* much. They nest beautifully and I store the lids vertically next to the bottoms. The smallest containers don’t get much use, but the larger ones are constantly in use/rotation. I am the dishwasher and happily nest the air-dried empty containers every morning while the coffee drips. Simple, easy, no mess, no stress!

We own both the Easy Find and the Premier and they all stack together as they are the same size and the lids are interchangeable. The Premier lids will stack on top of the Easy Find lids too. I prefer the Premier over the Easy find because the Premier don’t get the melty spots on them and last longer for reheating tomato based leftovers. The Easy Find start turning orange and eventually have those melty spots in them after many times of reheating greasy and tomato based foods.